Verbal offer but no written offer yet?

Question

Hi! I interviewed for director position two weeks ago then received a call from recruiter saying they would consider me associate director as I don't have much experience (which is fair). The recruiter said I will hear from her early to mid-next week. In my follow-up thank you email I mentioned I look forward to hearing from her next week to which she responded she will hope to be in touch next week. I followed back Wednesday to see if anything is needed from me to which she replied that she is still waiting for an update from the hiring manager and will hope to be in touch soon. What does this mean? Am I getting the job or not? 

Answer 1

It sounds like it takes an act of Congress.  It's a no from me.  I'm moving on with my life.

Answer 2

Your phrasing makes this a little difficult.  Did the recruiter CONFIRM that an offer of associate director will be given to you?  It doesn't sound like it, especially in your last update.  But you do have the right to know for sure.  Ask the recruiter to tell you exactly where this stands.  This is important, because a delay doesn't automatically mean you're not getting the job.  I've been a manager for years, and when job descriptions get redone, or others brought into the process, this can add weeks to an offer.  You still need to keep looking, of course, but until you get a definite "no" don't assume this won't happen.

Answer 3

Give them a bit of a break. The wheels of commerce grind slowly. You've followed up, so let them make a decision. Don't over-contact.  The recruiter  and hiring manager have kicked this upstairs to see if someone else can make the decision. It's out of your hands. 

Answer 4

"she is still waiting for an update ... and will hope to be in touch soon" means they haven't decided yet; you might get it, and you might not.  We don't know because they don't know.

Answer 5

Nothing in your post suggests that they are planning to hire you.  There was no verbal offer.  She simply informed you that IF they were to offer you a job, it would be for a lower title and salary because you aren't qualified for the job as is. 



What the recruit said is pretty much what a recruiter tells any applicant. If you are working with the recruiter rather than the hiring manager, you have to understand that this person has no idea what is really going on.  She only knows what she is told by the hiring manager.  if she doesn't get an update from the hiring manager, then she has nothing new to tell you.



I'd guess that the hiring manager is waiting to see if they can find another candidate with experience that more closely matches what they want.  They'll string you along until they determine that they can't find what they want and are willing to take you instead.

Answer 6

That's not a job offer

Answer 7

<  to which she replied that she is still waiting for an update from the hiring manager and will hope to be in touch soon >

 

You don't have the job and I don't see anything that suggests a verbal offer was made.  Saying they are going to consider you for an associate director is NOT an offer in my opinion.  But on the plus side, they are apparently still considering you.

Answer 8

Probsbly, but might take another week or so.  good luck.

Answer 9

Doesn’t sound to me like you actually got a verbal offer yet. The recruiter got and shared the feedback that you would be considered an associate director, not a director, but based on what you shared, not that they wanted to make you an offer for a role of associate director. There’s a big difference there. Right now the company/ hiring manager is trying to decide if they want to settle for a less experienced associate director or continue searching for someone more experienced who would step into a director role. You don’t have the job until the offer is in writing, so keep moving forward with other options and plans while you wait.

Answer 10

It means one of a couple of things.  1) The person to make final approval is unavailable and they are waiting on that person to get back in the office, 2) they are one of those organizations where managers are given preliminary approval to add head count, do all the leg work of recruiting, and interviewing, but then the leadership team never actually gives the approval to hire (and leaving people both inside the company and candidates hanging).  I've worked for two companies who made this a regular practice.  They sucked to work for in all ways.



What I would recommend is not assuming you have the job until you get the written offer.  In other words, continue applying and interviewing at places and don't' put in your notice at your current job.  If the written offer finally comes, wonderful.  If not, you haven't missed out on other opportunities or ruined your existing job.

Answer 11

You're under consideration, but you did not actually get a job offer.

Answer 12

It doesn’t sound to me like you got a verbal job offer, unless there was more to the conversation that you didn’t include here.  It sounds like the recruiter was saying that IF they hire you, you’d be hired as an associate director, not a regular director (or whatever the title is) due to your lack of experience.